Nitin Gadkari declares Rs 1300 crore to construct Chardham yatra routes

HARIDWAR: The Centre today announced a financial assistance of Rs 1300 crore to construct 890 Km of roads for Uttarakhand's famous Chardham yatra.

The announcement was made by Union Surface Transport and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari while speaking as Chief Guest at the national wrestling and kabaddi competition held at Ramdev's Patanjali Yogpeeth here to mark the institution's 20th foundation day.

Congratulating the Ramdev and his aide Balkrishna for promoting indigenous games like wrestling and kabaddi by organising events like this, he said the Centre will back all the campaigns launched by the yoga guru to promote Indian games, yoga and ayurveda.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar sat through the afternoon session of the sporting event which also saw the yoga guru displaying his wrestling skills.

Khattar suggested that Patanjali Yogpeeth should grow medicinal plants in the unused land of Haryana's farmers to promote farming in medicinal plants in the country and invited it to set up its plant in Haryana for which the state government will offer all help.

Khattar also gave Rs one lakh to each of the teams from Haryana and Punjab participating in the event.